A method of packaging a block product includes providing an opened tubular bag having a bag mouth, and a bag bottom; positioning the bag for loading; provided a block product; positioning the block product on a product platform; engaging the trailing edge of the block product with a protrusion, said protrusion mounted on a conveyor belt; and advancing the conveyor belt, with the protrusion mounted thereon, thereby advancing the block product toward the mouth of the bag, such that the momentum of the block product forces the block product to enter the bag and strike the bag bottom, and such that the protrusion mounted on the conveyor disengages from the trailing edge of the block product before the block product strikes the bag bottom. An apparatus is also disclosed.

Netting chutes suitable for use with manual and automatic packaging operations to enclose product in netting packaging include a non-circular cross-sectional cavity shape.

Netting chutes suitable for use with manual and automatic packaging operations to enclose product in netting packaging include at least one axially extending rib.

Methods, devices and computer program products automatically package an object in a covering material such as casing and/or netting by: (a) automatically pushing at least one object through a product chute; (b) pulling a covering material upstream of the product chute off an exterior surface of the product chute to automatically enclose the object in the covering material as the object exits the product chute; and (c) applying a clip to the covering material to secure the object in the packing material.

Netting chutes suitable for use with manual, automatic and semi-automatic packaging operations to enclose product in netting packaging include chutes with embossed floors.